Bankroll... The never ending question?

[Scotty O]

I have seen so many bankroll questions... How much do I need to play ring games? How much for Tourney's? How much for S&G's? etc.

I think players need to ask themselves some questions first:

Do I play for a living? If so bankroll is extremely important. Play with the rules of thumb that you can find using the SEARCH function here.

Do I play for fun? I think the majority of players fall in this catogory. Here is an example

Player A likes to go to the casino once per month. He feels his best shot of winning is playing poker instead of slots, craps, etc. He is willing to risk 500 on his visit (500 is not much of his total networth, so 500 is not as important to someone who lives check to check). He feels comfortable sitting at the following tables: 1/2 NLHE, up to 5/10 LHE or LO8. He just doesn't like the feel of the larger tables. This is an instint where someone doesnt really need a bankroll or a separate poker fund. How many players that go to the casino really have a separate account for their poker money? Not many, I bet. However, if someone played these tables for a living someone should have between $3k-$4k as a bankroll.

This is the same for the online player as well who fires up the computer to play. I know a player who is willing sit up at the 5/10 NL table with $1k and thats all they have in the account. He will just deposit more if he needs it.

Now some players like to deposit a few hundred in their account and build it up from there for the challenge. This is where bankroll matters. Play within your limits and good luck to you.

[prayformojo]

I agree with much of what you say, but there is one point I think is worth making. Having a separate bankroll helps to keep you honest about your own abilities and results.

When I play at the casino, I'm surrounded by people who play terribly and are convinced that they win more than they lose. They come in, blow $500-$1000 three nights in a row, then have a big night where they leave $1000 up. The big night feels so good, the other nights just fade away. One guy I've played with laughs every time he lays a bad beat with a garbage hand, because he knows he's not playing well according to the experts, and yet believes he's still a long term winner. Not keeping a proper bankroll enables his self-delusion, allowing him to keep playing badly while thinking everything is fine.

The guy who's willing to lose $500 may be a winning player, and he may not. I don't know. However, I can guarantee that if he had a dedicated 300BB roll, he would have a much harder time ignoring that his 300BB are gone at the end of the year than ignoring the repeated loss of a buy-in he was willing to lose anyway.

[Jimbo]

You are making a common mistake, assuming that all players consider winning more important than enjoying themselves.

Besides if you are able to replenish your losses with other means you have no need for a seperate poker bankroll other than to know how much you win or lose